H.J. Heinz Company (HNZ)

ClownishAtBest (< 20) Submitted: 6/27/08 9:30 AM

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Hey, this is about investing, not your opinion of gay people!

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jstegma (99.76) Submitted: 6/27/08 1:34 PM

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The investing part is about not investing in a company stupid enough to advertise a food product by showing two men participating in homosexual activities. Regardless of your opinion on gay people, you can agree that a very large number of people would rather not think about such things while they are eating. It will turn off more customers than it will attract. Therefore, it's not a good way to advertise. This will eventually cost them some sales. That won't help the stock.

Besides the obvious direct hit to sales that could result from a boycott by gays or those who don't like gays or anyone else, there is another factor revealed by this ridiculous ad that tells me its a thumbs down. Management put the gay couple with kids on TV to push a political agenda. Either they knew there would be a flap about it and it might hurt sales or they just never thought about it. One thing is for sure - I'd rather own a company whose management is thinking about helping their shareholders make money rather than thinking about how to advance gay rights or other political agendas. You don't want to see Coca-Cola say that for each bottle sold they'll donate 10 cents to the anti-abortion action league, at least not as a stockholder. Why? Because it will cost you some sales to the pro-abortion people. There is just no reason for a company like this to get involved in contentious political issues where the nation is fairly evenly divided.

There are clearly two sides to the gay rights issue. With this ad, Heinz managed to alienate both. Why not just advertise that their product tastes better than other brands using a cute kid or an athlete or something like that?

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Masterofdabull (99.72) Submitted: 9/27/08 6:43 PM

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When you refer to 'most people' to which group of people are you referring? Do you have the research to prove your numbers? 'Most people' in the world? 'Most people' in your community? Most people you know? Which is the biggest market that 'most people' agree with your 'observations'? New York, Hong Kong, Miami, London?
Do you have other prejudices that guide your investing opportunities?

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